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BORN
1942
DIED
2016
James Robertson Obituary
J. Greg Robertson, now at peace, died Saturday, June 4. Born in 1942, in Butte, Montana, Greg lived a life rich in love, adventure, music and words. A journalist for 20 years, beginning in Arizona and including Travel Editor (1980s) and Rock Critic (1970s) at The Hartford Courant, Greg was a writer in heart and soul. Greg was a community activist working against gangs and drug dealers in Frog Hollow, Hartford and was lovingly known as "Mr. Greg" to the neighborhood children. He proudly served the community in an official capacity as the Chief of Staff for Mayor Carrie Saxon Perry. Tragedy struck in 2007 when a home invasion and miscarriage of justice landed our dear Greg in prison. He spent his final days in longed-for freedom, surrounded by tenderness, music and love. His beloved daughter, grandchildren, brother, and extended family and friends grieve his passing. A memorial will be held on Saturday, June 11 in CT. Call (520)233-1149 for more information. In lieu of flowers, please donate to www.wcs.org. "Well, it shines so bright and it gives so much light . . . And lights my life with love." Brand New Day, Van Morrison.
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6 Entries
January 24, 2017
Hi precious soul will rest and I wish him only joy.Alex
Barbara Kagan
June 12, 2016
To dear Holly and all of Greg's family and friends, my heartfelt condolences on your loss. I worked with Greg for a number of years at the Courant. We remained friends, off and on, for many years after. Greg was a gifted writer, and a man with a great passion and kindness. He will always be in my heart. This photo was taken at my former home in New Haven in June of 1996. My husband and I had a small dinner party celebrating our recent trip to New Mexico. Greg was happy. It was the last time we were together.
Eddie Perez
June 11, 2016
My condolences to Greg's Family and friends. Greg was a great citizen of our city and strong advocate for its neighborhoods and his neighbors in Frog Hollow. He was a good friend and supporter of my work in Northend and at trinity. Rest in peace you were a good dude. Eddie Perez and family.
Brenda
June 11, 2016
My condolences to the family. May the peace that only God can give soothe the pain in your hearts.
Marilyn Rossetti
June 9, 2016
I got to know Greg during the 90's and the heyday of HART and community organizing in Hartford. He was dedicated to the cause and looked always to what was just and right. He was a great debater and loved to get into the depth of an issue. Those were wonderful days of change. I am sad to hear of his passing but will remember him from those special times - I think he would like that.
June 9, 2016
I was so saddened this morning to read of Greg's passing. I extend my deepest condolences to his loving family and many friends and colleagues who valued his friendship and admired his accomplishments as an exceptional journalist and as an extraordinary, caring and compassionate human being.
I worked with Greg at The Courant for many years while he was a reporter in the City Room when the legendary Irving Kravsow was managing editor. And once again, I connected with Greg when he was the Travel Editor, working for arts editor, Malcolm Johnson, in the close-knit features department in the Sunday Room. Greg was always well-liked by his co-workers, friends and colleagues, and was respected for his intelligence and diligence.
While never touting himself in any way, Greg was a gifted, creative and imaginative writer, one who loved words, rejoiced in music, and embraced everything in life with an openness, intellectual curiosity and an ingrained sense of what was right and just. Along with his pragmatic journalistic skills, Greg was an idealist who lived by the highest standards of courageous individualism and principled personal ethics that you might hope to emulate but knew that you could never match and, certainly, never surpass.
I'm very sorry for your loss.
Owen McNally
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